Straightening beam

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a straightening beam for an automotive bodyshell straightening jig, said straightening beam comprising a vertical beam (1), which is sideways rotatable attached to a beam base (11), which is detachably mountable to the frame of the automotive bodyshell straightening jig, and the beam further incorporating guidance means (2) for guiding a pulling tool member (3) attachable to the automotive bodyshell and for adjusting the position of the pulling tool member. With prior-art apparatuses it is not always possible to bring the pulling tool member sufficiently close to the point to be pulled or to exert the full power of the actuator via the pulling tool member. The straightening beam according to the invention incorporates an extension beam (4) attached to a vertical beam (1) so as to be rotatable and lockable at various angles. Furthermore, the vertical beam (1) incorporates a power actuator which exerts its force downward along the vertical beam and to which the pulling tool member is attached.

The present invention relates to a straightening beam for an automotivebodyshell straightening jig, said straightening beam comprising avertical beam, which is sideways rotatably attached to a beam base,which is detachably mountable to the frame of the automotive bodyshellstraightening jig, and the beam further incorporating guidance means forguiding a pulling tool member attachable to the automotive bodyshell andfor adjusting the position of the pulling tool member.

In conventional vehicle bodyshell straightening jigs the vehicle isdriven or transferred over the jig frame, after which the vehicle isattached with the help of clamping means to the frame and lifted to adesired elevation. The vertical beam of the jig is moved to a desiredworking location, after which the beam is rotated to a desired positionrelative to the vehicle. The guidance means are adjusted to a desiredelevation on the vertical beam. The pulling tool member is attached bothto the vehicle and via the guidance means to the jig frame, whichfurther is connected to a power actuator. Next, the actuator isenergized to apply a force to the pulling tool member as necessary tostraighten the bodyshell. In another embodiment of the jig a hydrauliccylinder is employed to pivotally rotate the vertical beam about a shaftwith the pulling tool member attached to the beam. A disadvantage inboth embodiments is that neither of the jigs is capable of efficientlytransferring the entire force exerted by the power actuator to the pointto be straightened. Conventional straightening jigs do not generallyallow orienting the pulling tool member to act from an exactly correctangle and height to the automotive bodyshell structures. Theconventional straightening beams are unable to reach, e.g., the interiorof the automotive bodyshell. Use of prior-art straightening jigs for,e.g., lifting purposes also is impossible without additional equipment.

It is an object of the present invention to achieve a straightening beamfor an automotive bodyshell straightening jig, said straightening beampermitting the orientation of the pulling tool member to act on theautomotive bodyshell in all circumstances from an optimum location,correct angle and correct height with respect to the straighteningoperation to be performed. Moreover, it is an object of the_(i)invention to provide a straightening beam capable of applyingessentially the entire force exerted by the power actuator to the pointto be straightened. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention toprovide a straightening beam having a simple construction and functionas well as applicability to, e.g., lifting purposes without the need foradditional equipment.

The goal set for the invention is attained by a straightening beamcomprising a extension beam, which is attached to a vertical beam so asto be rotatable and lockable at various angles. The vertical beamincorporates a power actuator which exerts its force downward along thevertical beam and to which power actuator the pulling tool member isattached. Then, by appropriately placing the vertical beam and theextension beam in desired positions, the pulling tool member can beoriented with the help of the guidance means attached to the verticalbeam and/or extension beam to act from a desired direction relative tothe automotive bodyshell, thus permitting the entire force of the poweractuator to be exerted via the pulling tool member at the point to bestraightened. The straightening beam formed by the vertical beam and theextension beam can be adjusted to a desired height and location withrespect to the automotive bodyshell, because the vertical beam issideways rotatably attached to the beam base and the extension beam isin other direction rotatable to the vertical beam. The guidance meanscan be mounted in appropriate positions on the straightening beam,whereby the pulling tool member can be adjusted to pull the automotivebodyshell from the most advantageous direction. It is also possible tobring the pulling tool inside the vehicle and it is possible to workefficiently there. Because the actuator power is directed downward, thepulling tool member connected to the actuator is moved efficiently andwithout loss of power. The straightening beam according to the inventionhas a simple yet effective construction.

The invention is next examined with the help of the attached drawings,in which

FIG. 1 shows in a side view an embodiment of the straightening beamaccording to the invention adjusted for a working position,

FIG. 2 shows in a side view the straightening beam illustrated in FIG. 1adjusted for another working position,

FIG. 3 shows in a side view another embodiment of the straightening beamaccording to the invention adjusted for a working position,

FIG. 4 shows the straightening beam illustrated in FIG. 3 adjusted foranother working position, and

FIG. 5 shows in a side view a third embodiment of the straightening beamaccording to the invention adjusted for a working position.

In the embodiments illustrated in the appended drawings, thestraightening beam comprises a vertical beam 1, which has an extensionbeam 4 pivotally mounted to it, and guidance means 2. The vertical beam1 is mounted on a beam base 11 and is sideways rotatable with respect tothe base and lockable in a desired position and angle with respect tothe base with the help of a locking pin 12. The beam base can be mountedto the straightening jig frame by means of a connecting beam 13. Theconnecting beam is mountable by conventional means to a pivotallyjointed part of the straightening jig frame and adjustable at a desiredangle with respect to the straightening jig frame.

The extension beam 4 is pivotally mounted to the end of the verticalbeam by means of a pivot pin which is inserted through holes provided atthe ends of both the vertical beam and the extension beam. FIGS. 1-5also illustrate a guidance element 2 mounted in the same position. Theend of the extension beam is provided with a bracket-shaped member 18,which has holes 5 and 6 as well as a bracket 17, which extends outwardfrom said member. When the straightening beam is in the positionillustrated in FIG. 1 having the vertical beam and the extension beamset at 90° angle, the locking pin is inserted through the hole 5, thuslocking the extension beam in its place by virtue of the locking pin andthe lip 14 of the extension beam. The vertical beam has holes 7 spacedat a suitable distance downward from the upper end of the vertical beam.The hole 5 of the extension beam is located so that an upward 45°rotation of the extension beam aligns the hole 6 with the upper hole 7of the vertical beam, thus permitting the locking of the beams in thisrelative position with the help of the locking pin. Correspondingly, theother holes 6 align with the holes 7 when the extension beam is rotatedupward at 90° angle, whereby the extension beam can be locked in thisposition. Thus locked, the beam forms a direct extension of the verticalbeam. In the other embodiments of the invention, the locking of theextension beam relative to the vertical beam is also possible at otherangles. Correspondingly, the other embodiments are suited to the use ofvaried pulling tools members. The guidance means 2 in this embodimentare formed by holes 2a drilled at suitable spacings from each other onthe vertical beam and the extension beam as well as support elements 2inserted in the holes, said elements being guiding sheaves or chainsprockets. The extension beam in particular can be provided with holeson both sides of the beam thus permitting the mounting of the guidancesheaves in desired positions along the beam. In the other embodimentsalso different types of conventional guidance means are usable.

The inside of the vertical beam houses a power actuator which can be ahydraulic cylinder (not shown in the diagrams). The hydraulic cylinderis placed to the lower part of the vertical beam in order to bring itspoint of gravity as low as possible. The end of the hydraulic cylindercarries a glide shoe 8 attached to it extending to the exterior of thevertical beam. The glide shoe has connection attachments for at leasttwo pieces of pulling tool members. The stroke Of the hydraulic cylinderis directed downward parallel with the axis of the vertical beam.

The pulling tool member 3 is any suitable pulling tool such as a rollerchain, link chain, cable or a similar element. The tool member isattached at its one end to the glide shoe 8 moved by the hydrauliccylinder and at its other end to a point 15 to be straightened on theautomotive bodyshell. The tool member is supported and guided from adesired location and direction relative to the automotive bodyshell withthe help of guidance means 2 attached to the vertical beam 1 and/or theextension beam 4.

The beam base 11 of the straightening beam incorporates a connectionmember 16 for the mounting of a backing member. The connection member isformed by a hollow beam, which is fixed to the beam base. A backingmember can be inserted through the connection member and locked, afterwhich the straightening beam is locked in place.

In the application shown in FIG. 1 the extension beam 4 is attached tothe vertical beam 1 so that the angle subtended between the beams is90°. The guidance sheaves are mounted at both the pivot pin and the endof the extension beam. Such an arrangement achieves a high straighteningforce, because the entire force exerted by the hydraulic cylinder can befocused on the point to be straightened.

FIG. 2 shows an application of the straightening beam for applying thestraightening force from two different heights. The extension beam isattached so as to form a straight extension of the vertical beam. Thedeflecting chain sprocket acting as the second guidance means is mountedon the vertical beam 1, while the guiding sheave performing as thesecond guidance means is mounted to the end of the extension beam 4. Achain 3a performing as the second pulling tool member is placed to actvia a chain sprocket on the front side of the straightening beam, whilecorrespondingly another chain 3b is placed to act via another guidingsheave on the other side of the beam. Also the use of two chains in thesame plane is possible during the straightening of, e.g., a rocker panelusing two pulling tool members.

In the straightening beam shown in FIG. 3 the extension beam 4 is lockedin a similar manner as in FIG. 2 to form a straight extension of thevertical beam 1. On the end of the extension beam is further mounted anextension arm 10 which in this application subtends an angle with theextension beam. On the extension arm is mounted a chain sprocket 2 at asuitable height so as to permit the chain 3 to be guided by the chainsprocket. Such an arrangement provides a proper pulling angle for, e.g.,straightening the roof structures of an automotive bodyshell. Whennecessary, the extension beam can be lengthened using two extensionarms, whereby the operating height of the straightening beam becomessufficient for straightening the bodyshells of vans, also. The extensionarm(s) can, of course, similarly be attached to the ends of extensionbeams illustrated in the other diagrams. Thus, e.g., the straighteningbeam shown in FIG. 1 can be made to reach the center of an automotivebodyshell from both its interior and exterior, whereby the straighteningbeam can be brought close to the point to be straightened and thepulling tool member can be attached at an exactly correct angle withrespect to the point to be straightened.

In the application shown in FIG. 4 the extension beam 4 is locked at a45° angle and its end is provided with an angled extension arm 10. Thisarrangement makes it possible to perform straightening operations sothat the vertical beam can be placed farther away than in theabove-described applications. In applications which make no use of anextension arm the guiding sheave is mounted on an adjacent side,of theextension beam to that shown for the guiding sheave in the diagram. Thisarrangement permits orienting the pulling tool member orthogonally awayfrom the beam.

In the application shown in FIG. 5 the extension beam 4 is not locked tothe vertical beam 1, but rather, is pivotally rotatable about a pivotpin 9. The end of the extension beam has an extension arm 10 attached toit, in this case a straight arm. The first pulling tool member,advantageously a roller chain 3, is attached to the bracket formed tothat end of the extension beam which is closer to the vertical beam. Asecond pulling tool member 3c is fixed to the other end of the extensionarm and clamped to a point 15 to be straightened. When a force isactuated by means of the first pulling tool member to the first end ofthe extension beam, its other end is rotated upward, thereby lifting thepulling tool member 3c along. This configuration is suited to pullingoperations not requiring greater force. Such pulling operations areinvolved in, e.g., the straightening of hoods and doors. In thisembodiment the apparatus is also applicable to the hoisting and transferof goods, after the straightening beam is separated from the frame ofthe straightening jig.

The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments describedabove, but rather, can be varied within the scope of the inventiondisclosed in the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A straightening beam for an automotive body straightening jig, comprising:a base beam constructed and arranged to be mounted to a frame of the straightening jig; a vertical beam attached to said base beam for sideways rotatable movement with respect thereto; a pulling tool member constructed and arranged to be attached to an automobile bodyshell; guide means for guiding and adjusting the position of the pulling tool member; an extension beam attached to the vertical beam in such a manner so as to be rotatable and lockable at different angular positions with respect thereto, the extension beam being pivotally mounted to the vertical beam by a pivot pin; an actuator operatively associated with said vertical beam and coupled to said pulling tool member, said actuator being constructed and arranged to exert a force downwardly along said vertical beam; at least two locking elements constructed and arranged to lock the extension beam in a desired position relative to said vertical beam; whereby when placing and locking said vertical beam and extension beam in desired positions, said pulling tool member can be oriented by use of said guide means to act from a desired direction relative to the automotive bodyshell so as to permit an entire force of the actuator to be exerted via the pulling tool member at a point on the automotive body shell to be straightened.
 2. A straightening beam as defined in claim 1, wherein the actuator is a hydraulic cylinder, which is placed in an interior portion of the vertical beam at a lower end thereof, said actuator carrying a glide shoe that extends to an exterior of the vertical beam, said glide shoe being movable along the vertical beam and having attachments for the pulling tool member.
 3. A straightening beam as defined in claim 2, wherein the glide shoe of the actuator has attachments for at least two pieces of pulling tool members.
 4. A straightening beam as defined in claim 1, wherein the beam base of the straightening beam incorporates a connection member for the mounting of a backing member, thereto.
 5. A straightening beam as defined in claim 1, wherein the pulling tool member is attached to an end of the extension beam which is closer to the vertical beam, whereby the extension beam can be used as derrick.
 6. A straightening beam as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one extension arm which is detachably mountable to a distal end of the extension beam. 